I used to be Britain's longest-running wrestling blogger. Then I got a proper job.

Tuesday, 8 January 2013

Guest Booker with Vince Russo - DVD Review

I think it’s safe to sat that Vince Russo is one of the most polarising figures in the recent history of professional wrestling. Depending on your point of view he’s either the saviour of wrestling in the 90’s or the destroyer of wrestling in the 00’s.

There’s no doubting however that the man is passionate about the business where he made his name, and it came as no great surprise when Kayfabe commentaries approached him for the latest in their Guest Booker series.

With Sean Oliver and his new beard leading the way Russo is given the assignment of re-booking one of the most anticipated and ultimately disappointing angles in professional wrestling history, the WCW invasion of the WWF.

I know what you’re thinking right now. Our Vince is just going to book another round of mass gang warfare between the two sides. If you are you couldn’t be more wrong.

Our new head booker goes right back to the very last edition of Monday Nitro, and while keeping Sting versus Flair as the final match it’s a very different show that ends WCW’s existence.

You’re still probably thinking that he still books a mass WCW invasion of Monday Night Raw, aren’t you?

What Russo does is apply a little logic to the proceedings, and it’s logic that Mr. Spock would be proud of, if he was capable of showing emotions. Gone are the times when a WCW guy attacks a WWF in a corridor to win the Hardcore title. Gone are the times where the WCW Tag Champs jump the guard rail and are attacked by a band of WWF mid-carders. And gone is the entire concept of the Invasion pay-per-view.

Instead Russo goes back to the moment where WCW made people take notice, where they started to kick the WWF’s backside in the ratings. He starts small and builds it up nicely with some interesting shoot style promos which eventually leads to the return of….now that would be telling, wouldn’t it? Let’s just say that if things had been played out this way while I would have been a little disappointed at a lack of WCW v WWF matches I would have enjoyed this just as much.

Russo’s booking ideas for this angle certainly made sense. The old phrase “less is more” was never more apt.

It’s these ideas, and the other segments where Russo talks about how he became involved in wrestling and what’s wrong with the business today that make this release worth watching, even though the esteemed Mr. Oliver kept getting his dates mixed up. The WCW invasion was in 2001, not 2000 dammit!

In conclusion - I’ve said it before about Kayfabe Commentaries releases, but they’ve gone and done it again, which is why I’m going to give this latest Guest Booker the big thumbs up.

With thanks to the powers that be for supplying a copy of this release. Guest Booker with Vince Russo is available to buy online at www.kayfabecommentaries.com.